The Eltham Shire War Memorial, a tower of remembrance, was built with public donations to commemorate the memory of the fallen soldiers from the shire who enlisted in the 1914-1918 war. The tower is reminiscent of the peel-towers or watchtowers that lined the English-Scottish border from the mid 14th century to around 1600 and is constructed from locally quarried stone. This uncommon and picturesque war memorial, which affords an excellent view of the surrounding district was unveiled by His Excellency the Governor-General (Lord Stonehaven) on November 11, 1926. In July 1922 a deputation of returned soldiers from Panton Hill, presumably the Panton Hill branch of the Returned Sailors and Soldiers Imperial League of Australia (RSSILA), proposed to Eltham Shire Council that the monument should be a cairn of local stone “sufficiently high to form a prominent and conspicuous landmark, and crowned with some suitable device”. Eltham Shire Councillor and President of the Panton Hill branch of the RSSILA, Basil Hall, was credited with being the first to suggest a tower, and with organising a Memorial Park committee to raise funds for the monument in the Memorial Park. A meeting for those interested in the establishing a War Memorial monument in the park was held in January 1924 and the Eltham Shire War Memorial League was formed for this purpose. It appears that the broad and rounded cairn that had been recently built was considered by the League a temporary affair, and not the substantial cairn-as-monument, sufficiently high to form the conspicuous landmark, which had been envisaged by the Panton Hill RSSILA. A design competition was held for the monument. The chairman of the League, Councillor Basil Hall, suggested that the site of the memorial in Kangaroo Ground would lend itself to something rugged, instead of polished stone. By April 1924 thirty designs for a memorial had been received from which three designs were selected and of those, the design by the shire engineer Mr McCormack, for a 70ft tower suitable for construction in rough stone, was chosen. Artist Harold Herbert suggested that a peel tower-like design reminiscent of those along the English-Scottish border would be fitting for the site. Herbert drew up a rough sketch that was approved of, and later, Melbourne architect Percy Meldrum volunteered to draw up the design from sketch to architectural drawings. By January 1925 the Soldiers’ Memorial League had adopted Meldrum’s design for a 50ft high tower. Meldrum had also offered his design and supervision of construction free of charge. The Shire provided the stone to the builders, which was a gift quarried from land owned at Kangaroo Ground by Dr Ethel and Professor William Osborne The Shire of Eltham War Memorial, a tower of remembrance, and honour board were unveiled on November 11, 1926, by the Governor General Lord Stonehaven. At this stage a temporary honour roll was painted on the panels on either side of the tower entrance. In September 1930 bronze plates were added above the portal with the names of men who fell in the 1914-18 war. On November 16, 1951, the Governor of Victoria, Sir Dallas Brooks re-dedicated the war memorial tower and unveiled the names of men who gave their lives in the 1939-45 war. Two additional bronze plaques which recognise service in the armed conflicts of Korea, Borneo, Malaya, and Vietnam were unveiled November 11, 2001, by the Governor of Victoria, John Landy, A.C., M.B.E. The tower was first used for fire spotting activities following the Black Friday bushfire in January 1939 in response to a request from Mr R.D. Ness, secretary of the Kangaroo Ground bush fire brigade, who asked Council that the tower be used as an observation tower for detecting bush fires, and asked Council to arrange a telephone to be installed. It was suggested that if the Shire were to appoint a caretaker for the Memorial Park, his duties could also include raising the alarm in the event of a fire. Later in 1939 Council applied for a radio transmitter, which the Forestry Commission planned to install at vantage places throughout the state. The first dedicated fire spotter appointed from December1948, was Mr Smith of Warrandyte. A prefabricated glazed cabin was installed in 1974, which involved the removal of the original stone structure around the rooftop exit door. A new fire spotting cabin, which included the latest technology, was installed soon after the 2009 Black Saturday fires and is manned by CFA personnel on high fire danger days. Covered under Heritage Overlay, Nillumbik Planning Scheme. Published: Nillumbik Now and Then /​ Marguerite Marshall 2008; photographs Alan King with Marguerite Marshall.; p123This collection of almost 130 photos about places and people within the Shire of Nillumbik, an urban and rural municipality in Melbourne's north, contributes to an understanding of the history of the Shire. Published in 2008 immediately prior to the Black Saturday bushfires of February 7, 2009, it documents sites that were impacted, and in some cases destroyed by the fires. It includes photographs taken especially for the publication, creating a unique time capsule representing the Shire in the early 21st century. It remains the most recent comprehenesive publication devoted to the Shire's history connecting local residents to the past. While published in the book in black and white, this collection features the original colour digital photographs. nillumbik now and then (marshall-king) collection, garden hill, kangaroo ground, memorial park, shire of eltham war memorial

The Orford family, a pioneer family remained continuously living and working in Eltham for 170 years from 1854 to 2024. James and Sarah Orford arrived in Sydney in 1839 aboard the ship “Orestes”; they had several children there before settling in Eltham in 1854. Three children, James Mathias, Sarah Amelia and Thomas Henry initially remained in the Eltham area. James eventually moved to Brunswick. Sarah married Arthur Butler Young and finally lived in Bunyip. Thomas who was six years old when the family arrived in 1854 remained in Eltham, married Helen Logan who died, leaving a large family. They lived in a slab hut by the Yarra at Laughing Waters and Thomas managed the Panton Park Estate, a selection owned by Magistrate Thomas Panton. Thomas’s son, Ernest Orford was born 1892 at Pitt Street, Eltham and also lived his entire life in Eltham working as a labourer, orchardist and later as a gardener and grounds keeper for Sir William Irvine, a former Chief Justice and Premier of Victoria. Ernest married Kate Thomas; their two sons Ron and Doug stayed in the area. Another of Thomas' sons, Arthur, also lived in Eltham. Four Orford generations attended Eltham schools. Doug Orford was born on the kitchen table (reference, son Ted Orford) of the family home at the corner of Reynolds Road and Mount Pleasant Road. Doug married Gwen and they established a family however Gwen died at a young age from cancer. Doug eventually remarried another Gwen and they lived for several decades in Napoleon Street, Eltham. Doug was actively involved in EDHS over many years, including serving as a committee member and vice president. Contributions by Doug and Gwen, his wife, assisted EDHS to continue to develop as a not-for-profit group intent on promoting and preserving our local history. Both Doug and Gwen were made Life Members of EDHS. His significant work with assisting to establish our valued Local History Centre helped develop our home base and supported the continued growth of our society. Doug’s local knowledge, suggestions and family connections were highly valued, Until recent times, he continued to regularly attend our Collections Team workshops providing his insights and historical information about photographs and society records. Doug died peacefully July 8, 2024, and represents the last link in the Orford Eltham chain which spanned 170 years. His funeral was held Thursday, July 18, 2024, at Le Pine Funerals, 848 Main Road, Eltham. Contents: Typed notes, no date: Memories of Ernest Orford [taped 1979] about his school days. Handwritten notes, no date: History of Ernie Orford Typed notes, no date: History of Thomas Henry Orford and family. Photocopy: Shire of Eltham General Rate Receipts. Received from D Orford 7 June 1923 and Received from E F Orford, 4 August 1924. Letter, no date: Nillumbik Shire to Russell Yeoman, Gwen Orford to receive Volunteer Recognition Award. Newsletter article: "The Orford Family, Eltham", Shire of Eltham Historical Society, No.80 September 1991. History of Orford family. Handwritten notes: 21 March 2011, genealogy of George Orford. On reverse Melways map makred with Orford and other land ownerships. Newspaper advertisement, 21 March 2011: "264 Reynolds Road, South Eltham", property for sale [land in ownership of Orford family]. Letter: St Margaret's Anglican Church Eltham to Doug Orford, 17 November 2011, Extracts from church records relative to Orford family. Newspaper article: "Timely facelift at war memorials', Diamond Valley Leader, 30 April 2024, Nillumbik war memorial will have some work and a bronze plaque will be installed at the Eltham Avenue of Honour, Wingrove Park; photograph of Doug Orford Newsletter item: "Welcome home medal", Eltham District Historical Society newsletter no.216 May 2014, World War I two 'Welcome Home Medals' in ownership of local men, being Harry Gilham and Doug Orford. Order of Service, Le Pine Funerals (Eltham), In Loving Memory of Douglas Frederick Orford 22nd August 1929 - 8th July 2024Newspaper clippings, A4 photocopies, etcdoug orford, harry gilham, welcome home medal, eltham avenue of honour, nillumbik war memorial, wingrove park, henry dendy, alfred armstrong, james orford, 264 reynolds road south eltham, george orford, george joseph orford, maryanne george joseph, thomas henry orford, ernest orford, e f orford, eltham cemetery, helen orford, joseph panton, panton park, gordon lyon, banyule estate heidelberg, james matthias orford, wurundjeri, constable peter lawlor, george hill, franklin street eltham, ronald orford, eltham primary school, john brown, robert gamble school inspector, sarah orford, mary ann orford, james mathias orford, sarah amelia orford, james peet, arthur butler young, watsons creek victoria, kangaroo ground victoria, helen logan, william orford, jane orford, arthur orford, frederick orford, florrie orford, victor orford, chem orford, sunnymede eltham, panton hill estate, sir william irvine, gordon lyons, kate thomas, north eltham gospel church, harold clapp, eltham cricket club, research primary school, dalton street school eltham, keith banks, betty banks, benjamine boyd, laughing waters road eltham, freddie gilsinen, douglas frederick orford, eltham district historical society, funeral service, le pine funeral home, life member, order of service

1951 Aerial photo 1423-110 Run 10 showing the Shire of Eltham War Memorial at centre of image with the newly constructed Caretaker's cottage.aerial photographs, garden hill farm, kangaroo ground, memorial park, shire of eltham war memorial

Shire of Eltham Archives: Series 69, Item 4 This video was produced for the Shire of Eltham by IMP Productions and provides a description of the shire, 277 square km on a north/northeast axis, some 25 km northeast of the centre of Melbourne with a population of around 40,000. Scenes include Yarra River, rural settings and urban settings, housing estates, Shillinglaw Cottage, Pigeon Bank at Kangaroo Ground, the Eltham Railway Trestle Bridge with reference to the fight by locals in the 1970s to save it from replacement, Montsalvat, mudbrick making and its use as a building material, the use of mudbrick in the Eltham Community Centre blending harmoniously with the environment. Emphasises people living in the area due to the qualities of life provided. Also the Living and Learning Centre, St Andrews Markets and other local markets, the Eltham Leisure Centre, cricket and horse riding at Eltham Lower Park, the Infant Welfare Centre (part of the Eltham War Memorial), how residents are mindful of protecting their historical heritage, the CBA bank and Allwood House at Hurstbridge, Tracey Naughton about the Eltham "As we are" Community Banner project and the “River of Life banner”, the Parks and Gardens office in the former Police Residence building (now the Local History Centre), Alistair Knox Park, road planning and types of roads, tree canopy, Peck's Dam, green carparks, road drainage, Gordon Ford's garden and natural landscapes, and Were Street shops in Montmorency. Planning for shopping facilities and carparks with a population of 40,000 growing to 55,000, Arthur Street Mall and carpark, local village feel in the shopping centre. Councillors and Council staff featured include Mary Grant, Bob Manuell, Rodney Roschellor, John Cohen, Alan Baker. Also scenes of Commercial Place, Diamond Valley Railway, Eltham Galley, Riverclay and canoeing on the Yarra intermingled with images of the shire from the Shire of Eltham Pioneers Photograph collection.VHS Video cassette Converted to MP4 file format 00:11:56; 79MBshire of eltham, video recording, shire of eltham archives, alistair knox park, allwood house, arthur street, arthur street mall, bob manuell, canoeing, carparks, cba bank, commercial place, council staff, councillors, cr. mary grant, cricket, diamond valley railway, eltham community banner project, eltham community centre, eltham galley, eltham leisure centre, eltham living and learning centre, eltham lower park, eltham railway trestle bridge, eltham war memorial, gordon ford garden, horse riding, housing estates, hurstbridge, infant welfare centre, john cohen, kangaroo ground, local history centre, montmorency, montsalvat, mudbrick, parks and gardens, peck's dam, pigeon bank, police residence, river of life banner, riverclay, road drainage, road planning, rodney roschellor, shillinglaw cottage, shire of eltham pioneers photograph collection, st andrews market, tracey naughton, tree canopy, were street, yarra river, alan baker

Handwritten sketches showing additions to the Police/Emergency services communications tower in 2004. Harry Gilham noted that the cylindrical shaped object was blocking the view from the War Memorial tower to the land area and made suggestions to the Nillumbik Shire Council and CFA that it be raised to the sky area above the Mt St Leonard-Healesville range.Colour photo print 12.5 x 19 cmHandwritten notes on both sides regarding 2004 modificationskangaroo ground, shire of eltham memorial park, emergency services communications tower, harry gilham, nillumbik shire council, war memorial tower

Black and white photo print 8 x 4.5 cmElthjam District Historical Society stampeltham-yarra glen road, kangaroo ground, shire of eltham memorial park, shire of eltham war memorial, war memorial tower, garden hill

Black and white photo reproduction print 15 x 10 cmDonor's detailseltham-yarra glen road, kangaroo ground, shire of eltham memorial park, shire of eltham war memorial, war memorial tower, garden hill

Shows the upgraded CFA fire spotter's lookout on top of the towerColour photo print 15 x 10 cm (1 of 6)eltham-yarra glen road, kangaroo ground, shire of eltham memorial park, shire of eltham war memorial, war memorial tower, garden hill, cfa lookout, fire spotting

Colour photo print 15 x 10 cm (1 of 6)eltham-yarra glen road, kangaroo ground, shire of eltham memorial park, shire of eltham war memorial, war memorial tower, garden hill

Colour photo print 15 x 10 cm (1 of 6)eltham-yarra glen road, kangaroo ground, shire of eltham memorial park, war memorial tower, garden hill, emergency services communication tower

Colour photo print 15 x 10 cm (2 of 6)eltham-yarra glen road, kangaroo ground, shire of eltham memorial park, war memorial tower, garden hill, moor-rul viewing platform

Colour photo print 15 x 10 cm (2 of 6)eltham-yarra glen road, kangaroo ground, shire of eltham memorial park, war memorial tower, garden hill, emergency services communications tower

Colour photo print 15 x 10 cm (1 of 4)eltham-yarra glen road, kangaroo ground, shire of eltham memorial park, war memorial tower, garden hill, moor-rul viewing platform

Colour photo print 15 x 10 cm (2 of 4)eltham-yarra glen road, kangaroo ground, shire of eltham memorial park, war memorial tower, garden hill, moor-rul viewing platform

Colour photo print 15 x 10 cm (2 of 4)eltham-yarra glen road, kangaroo ground, shire of eltham memorial park, war memorial tower, garden hill, moor-rul viewing platform

Colour photo print 15 x 10 cm (2 of 4)eltham-yarra glen road, kangaroo ground, shire of eltham memorial park, war memorial tower, garden hill, moor-rul viewing platform

Colour photo print 15 x 10 cm (2 of 4)eltham-yarra glen road, kangaroo ground, shire of eltham memorial park, war memorial tower, garden hill, moor-rul viewing platform

Colour photo print 15 x 10 cm (2 of 4)eltham-yarra glen road, kangaroo ground, shire of eltham memorial park, war memorial tower, garden hill, moor-rul viewing platform

Looking towards the Shire of Eltham Memorial Park on top of Garden Hill,, Eltham-Yarra Glen Road, Kangaroo Ground, c.May 1988. Viewed from near intersection of Kangaroo Ground-Warrandyte Road and Eltham-Yarra Glen Road35mm colour positive transparency (2 of 36) Mount - Kodak KodachromeProcess Date MAY 88Meltham-yarra glen road, kangaroo ground, shire of eltham memorial park, shire of eltham war memorial

Looking towards the Shire of Eltham Memorial Park on top of Garden Hill,, Eltham-Yarra Glen Road, Kangaroo Ground, c.May 1988. Viewed from near intersection of Kangaroo Ground-Warrandyte Road and Eltham-Yarra Glen Road35mm colour positive transparency (2 of 36) Mount - Kodak KodachromeProcess Date MAY 88Meltham-yarra glen road, kangaroo ground, shire of eltham memorial park, shire of eltham war memorial

Various views from each side of the tower lookout. The Memorial Park and Shire of Eltham War Memorial tower are sited at was once known as Garden Hill and was reknowned for its panoramic views it offered tourists from the 1880s on. It was claimed that the full extent of the former Shire of Eltham could be looked upon from this viewpoint - and extending beyond.35 mm colour positive transparency x 7 Mount - Agfacolor Service (Blue)kangaroo ground, shire of eltham, war memorial tower, eltham-yarra glen road, shire of eltham war memorial

The toilet block facilities for the park and war memorial were constructed in 196535 mm colour positive transparency Mount - Agfacolor Service (Blue)kangaroo ground, shire of eltham, war memorial tower, eltham-yarra glen road, shire of eltham war memorial

35mm colour positive transparency (1 of 25) Mount - Kodak EktachromeProcess Date MAY 88Mgarden hill, kangaroo ground, memorial park, scan - 35mm positive, shire of eltham war memorial, war memorial tower

35mm colour positive transparency (1 of 25) Mount - Kodak EktachromeProcess Date MAY 88Mgarden hill, kangaroo ground, memorial park, shire of eltham war memorial, war memorial tower

35mm colour positive transparency (1 of 28) Mount - Kodak KodachromeProcess Date MAR 89Mgarden hill, kangaroo ground tower, memorial park, shire of eltham war memorial

35mm colour positive transparency (1 of 25) Mount - Kodak EktachromeProcessing Date Code Jun 90Mkangaroo ground, eltham-yarra glen road, garden hill, memorial park, shire of eltham war memorial

35mm colour positive transparency Mount - Black and Whitegarden hill, kangaroo ground tower, kangaroo ground-warrandyte road, memorial park, shire of eltham war memorial

A4 photocopies and Master sheets consisting of copies cut and pasted together for 2010 edition (pages 77 on) Also digital file of copy scanned from Council. Most pages from 77 on have page numbers added by hand not present on master sheets. Note: no page 63 (pagination error possible) First published 2002 The Tower of Remembrance and War Memorial Park on Garden Hill at Kangaroo Ground, Victoria, 1919-2001; Revised 2010. 109 p, : ill, ports., plans ; 30cm ISBN 0957719825 (2002) Eltham District Historical Society 2010

Outlines the history of the Kangaroo Ground Tower of Remembrance from 1918 and the process undertaken by Nillumbik Council's Advisory Committee to refurbish the Tower. The Tower of Remembrance is a local landmark in Kangaroo Ground which had fallen into disrepair. This book documents the restoration of the Tower and Park c1997-2002Soft clear plastic front cover, red back cover. 107 pages, black and white illus. tower of remembrance, war memorials, kangaroo ground, nillumbik council, eltham district historical society

ELTHAM HERITAGE TOUR The Society excursion on 24th May 1992 was arranged by David Bick, leader of the team carrying out the Shire's heritage study. David selected a number of sites or buildings identified in the study, some of them lesser known components of the Shire's heritage. The tour commenced at the Eltham Shire Office at 10.00 am. Travel was by private car and mini-bus with stops at about twelve locations for commentary by David.It included a short walk in Hurstbridge and lunch at Kinglake. Highlights of the tour included: - 10 am Leave from Shire Offices - 3 Important Trees - A Physical Link to Eltham's First Settlers - Toorak Mansion Gates - A Surviving Farm House - An Intact Circa 1900 Main Street - First Settlers - Gold Miners, and Timber-getters - An Early Hotel - A Pioneering Homestead - Changing Eltham Shire - 20th Century - 4 pm Afternoon Tea and Finish Tour Extract from ELTHAM CULTURAL HERITAGE TOUR (Newsletter No. 85, July 1992, by Bettina Woodburn) "Now we drove through stands of pines to the Kangaroo Ground Lookout Tower, a most unusual War Memorial, World War I. The tower and a shed/residence (it had a chimney) were built from local sandstone. Below to the south and east of Melbourne spread 'suburbia'. Close by the landscape seemed so contrived - English fields and hedgerows! Although only about twenty inches deep, the soil of this ancient volcano, its crater lost under subsequent weathering, was rich, deserving the name of "Garden Hill". Now native trees are taking over again. In Kangaroo Ground itself stand the inevitable Store, School and Church - and two Norfolk pines and a monkey puzzle tree." On November 11th 1926 the Shire of Eltham War Memorial Tower at Kangaroo Ground was opened. It is regarded as one of Melbourne’s most outstanding lookout towers. It commands a magnificent 360 degree panorama from Kinglake across the Diamond Valley to Macedon and the You Yangs. It is built on a peak which was once a volcano, 237 metres above sea level. After World War one a memorial cairn was erected on the site, and in 1925 a committee of public-minded citizens began to plan for a tower. Many generous donations of material and money were forthcoming so that in 1926 the Governor General Lord Stonehaven was able to unveil the plaque before a crowd of 500 people. There was some concern in the 1960s when the Forests Commission wanted to build a firespotters cabin on the top. At first R.S.L. branches opposed the idea, but it was realised that this use could combine with its use as a tourist attraction, and would ensure its maintenance for the future, Today the Kangaroo Ground tower provides one of the best views around Melbourne and is a fitting memorial to those who died in two world wars. From: Historic items for Diamond Valley Community Radio September 1990 (EDHS collection) Record of the Society's history and activities and highlighting various aspects of the Heritage Study undertaken by David Bick used to create the future heritage overlay for the Shire of Eltham and later Nillumbik Shire.Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 4 stripsKodak Gold 100 5095culture, events, garden hill, kangaroo ground, kangaroo ground memorial, memorial park, shire of eltham war memorial tower, war memorials